Kol Nidrei

Question

Dear Joyce:

Kol Nidrei (the first prayer on the evening of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement) is a text that deals with the absolution of vows. According to Rabbi Max Arzt (Justice and Mercy - Commentary on the Liturgy of the New Year and the Day of the Atonement, New York, 1963, page 202), Kol Nidrei is “recited three times because it was a practice for legal formulae to be so recited" ( See Mishnah Menahot, chapter 10, mishnah 3).

According to Eliyahu Ki Tov (Sefer Hatoda'ah, Vol. 1, page 50) the Shaliah Tzibbur (leader of religious services) starts in a low voice and raises it a little more each time to reach a climax in which the worshippers get into the proper Yom Kippur mood (fear, trembling and serious concentration). This explanation, although not explaining the need for a 3-time recitation, does explain the purpose of repeating the text more than once.

Hag Sameah!

Rabbi Diana Villa